Port Vale's new manager John Askey is hoping John Rudge will stay on at the club.

Rudge, the club's greatest ever manager, returned to the club in an advisory capacity in October 2017 when Neil Aspin was appointed.

Aspin resigned last week, but his replacement Askey says there should always be a place at the club for Rudge.

Askey said: " have spoken to John. He is an important part of the football club and its history. He is the most successful manager the club has ever had and I think it is important that the football club keep him here.

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"He is somebody you can lean on in times when you need to. If I can pick up the phone and speak to John then that is great. You need people like that at the football club. I think football clubs are about including people, not excluding them."

Askey's opening first-team game is away to Cambridge United on Saturday but in the meantime Vale's reserves are at home to Morecambe tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1pm, subject to a pitch inspection. The Valiants are hoping to play the game on the main pitch.

Askey has appointed Dave Kevan as his assistant manager and plane to keep Danny Pugh as the club's first team coach.